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I'm a big fan of cacti. I've not managed to kill one (yet). Also anecdotally I found I was killing plants because I overwatered them. Turns out they don't need

by iamben 8y ago

I'm a big fan of cacti. I've not managed to kill one (yet). Also anecdotally I found I was killing plants because I overwatered them. Turns out they don't need love as often as I (and I think a lot of people) thought. Apparently a good generic test is checking if the soil is damp - don't water if it is. Anyway, just asked this question to the founder of a start-up I'm working with. She replied "Sansevierras thrive on neglect and low light calatheas are good" - if that helps? As an aside / plug if you're in the UK: https://bloomboxclub.com https://bloomboxclub.com - she's set up HN10 which will give you 10% off all plants / plant subscriptions for the next few days and want some (more?!) greenery :-)

heavenlyblue 8y ago
How do you search for sansevierras o your website? :)
- iamben 8y ago
  Hey there, good question. As far as I know there's no search because the product range is limited! I've just pinged the question to them, apparently you're looking for "the snake plant". Which would be both of these :-) https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/snake-plant-mothers-tongue https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/snake-pla... https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/rough-and-tough-snake-plant https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/rough-and...
  - notafraudster 8y ago
    It's spelled "sansevieria", not "sansevierra"; and the "snake plant" (also called "mother-in-law's tongue", as your first listing does) is the common name for sansevieria trifasciata. It is a very good starter plant, easy to take care of (water once a week, not too much) and to propagate if you need to trim it (cut up a leaf into thin strips and put them in soil, wait for them to form roots and sprouts). It's also available pretty much everywhere including in grocery store plant sections. The website listing claims that the plant comes in a 17m pot, which is implausible. Probably 17cm was intended? The latter link, sansevieria cylindrica, is a related plant which is commonly called "African Spear" and generally not called "snake plant". S. cylindrica are a little more rare to see and in my experience a little more temperamental about excessive water, but they do look great. Of course, the listing says "Species of Snake Plant May Vary", so then most people won't be getting a s. cylindrica anyway. Unless they meant "cultivars of sansevieria cylindrica may vary" -- a cultivar is the level below a species, analogous to breed in animals, in the same way that a Pom and a Chow Chow aren't two different species of dog. Not trying to be a jerk here, but one presumes the unique selling point of an expensive plant subscription service is the curation -- in other words, the expertise and care of the team working on the product -- as much as the convenience.
    - iamben 8y ago
      Haha, sorry! I'll take the blame for the spelling. I should have googled. Have also passed on the 17m/cm typo. Good catch. A 17m pot would indeed be implausible. As for the other one, I have no idea. The name comes from the grower apparently. I'm fairly certain you get pretty much what you see, although you may be right about the cultivar. No worries at all - I'll pass on the corrections. And you're right. Both the founders are lovely, care very much about the product (and sourcing interesting and harder to find - in the UK especially - plants), and the mental and general health benefits of having a life full of plants. But the team and company is small and learning as they grow (if you pardon the pun!). Feedback is very important and appreciated.
ljoshua 8y ago
Oh that's neat, I wish it were in the US as well as the UK. I'd subscribe!
- iamben 8y ago
  Thanks! One day maybe! It's been an interesting ride - before I got involved I'd never really thought much about plants. I have a good few (alive!) ones dotted around now. Love it :-)
another-cuppa 8y ago
Some plants need a lot of water. Basil does, for example. But succulents in particular don't want much.
aaaaaaass 8y ago
Wow, this is just blatant advertising.
Jaepa 8y ago
I'll second sansevierras (also called snake plant or mother in law's tongue). When I started working as a programmer I had one in my office in the back of a windowless office. It was amusing seeing how many people assumed it as a fake plant as they didn't a plant could live back there. Zamioculcas (or ZZ Plants) are also another very hardy plant that do well in low light and can take a lot of abuse. There is also Pothos, several types of ferns (Boston being the most aviable in my experience), Spathiphyllum (peace lilly), Dieffenbachia, Monstera, Spiderplant, Rubber plant, weeping fig, fiddle leaf fig. All of these are pretty common and should be relatively easy to find. If you want some more interesting ones there are Calathea Triostar, Ficus Doescheri & Tradescantia Tricolor which all have a pinklish marbling, & Tradescantia pallida which is a deep purple.
- nkzednan 8y ago
  Another thing about snake plants is that you can cut a few inches of a leaf off and plant it. Within 3-9 months or so it will sprout some new shoots.

by iamben 8y ago

heavenlyblue 8y ago

How do you search for sansevierras o your website? :)

iamben 8y ago
Hey there, good question. As far as I know there's no search because the product range is limited! I've just pinged the question to them, apparently you're looking for "the snake plant". Which would be both of these :-) https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/snake-plant-mothers-tongue https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/snake-pla... https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/rough-and-tough-snake-plant https://bloomboxclub.com/collections/shop/products/rough-and...
- notafraudster 8y ago
  It's spelled "sansevieria", not "sansevierra"; and the "snake plant" (also called "mother-in-law's tongue", as your first listing does) is the common name for sansevieria trifasciata. It is a very good starter plant, easy to take care of (water once a week, not too much) and to propagate if you need to trim it (cut up a leaf into thin strips and put them in soil, wait for them to form roots and sprouts). It's also available pretty much everywhere including in grocery store plant sections. The website listing claims that the plant comes in a 17m pot, which is implausible. Probably 17cm was intended? The latter link, sansevieria cylindrica, is a related plant which is commonly called "African Spear" and generally not called "snake plant". S. cylindrica are a little more rare to see and in my experience a little more temperamental about excessive water, but they do look great. Of course, the listing says "Species of Snake Plant May Vary", so then most people won't be getting a s. cylindrica anyway. Unless they meant "cultivars of sansevieria cylindrica may vary" -- a cultivar is the level below a species, analogous to breed in animals, in the same way that a Pom and a Chow Chow aren't two different species of dog. Not trying to be a jerk here, but one presumes the unique selling point of an expensive plant subscription service is the curation -- in other words, the expertise and care of the team working on the product -- as much as the convenience.
  - iamben 8y ago
    Haha, sorry! I'll take the blame for the spelling. I should have googled. Have also passed on the 17m/cm typo. Good catch. A 17m pot would indeed be implausible. As for the other one, I have no idea. The name comes from the grower apparently. I'm fairly certain you get pretty much what you see, although you may be right about the cultivar. No worries at all - I'll pass on the corrections. And you're right. Both the founders are lovely, care very much about the product (and sourcing interesting and harder to find - in the UK especially - plants), and the mental and general health benefits of having a life full of plants. But the team and company is small and learning as they grow (if you pardon the pun!). Feedback is very important and appreciated.

ljoshua 8y ago

Oh that's neat, I wish it were in the US as well as the UK. I'd subscribe!

iamben 8y ago
Thanks! One day maybe! It's been an interesting ride - before I got involved I'd never really thought much about plants. I have a good few (alive!) ones dotted around now. Love it :-)

another-cuppa 8y ago

Some plants need a lot of water. Basil does, for example. But succulents in particular don't want much.

aaaaaaass 8y ago

Wow, this is just blatant advertising.

Jaepa 8y ago

I'll second sansevierras (also called snake plant or mother in law's tongue). When I started working as a programmer I had one in my office in the back of a windowless office. It was amusing seeing how many people assumed it as a fake plant as they didn't a plant could live back there. Zamioculcas (or ZZ Plants) are also another very hardy plant that do well in low light and can take a lot of abuse. There is also Pothos, several types of ferns (Boston being the most aviable in my experience), Spathiphyllum (peace lilly), Dieffenbachia, Monstera, Spiderplant, Rubber plant, weeping fig, fiddle leaf fig. All of these are pretty common and should be relatively easy to find. If you want some more interesting ones there are Calathea Triostar, Ficus Doescheri & Tradescantia Tricolor which all have a pinklish marbling, & Tradescantia pallida which is a deep purple.

nkzednan 8y ago
Another thing about snake plants is that you can cut a few inches of a leaf off and plant it. Within 3-9 months or so it will sprout some new shoots.